Steel Rats

Steel Rats on PC is a 2.5D motorcycle action platformer from Tate Multimedia, combining stunt riding, lane-based exploration, and vehicular combat in a retro-futuristic version of 1940s America. The Steam storefront still uses the original Steel Rats name, with no verified rebrand or replacement edition currently presented as the main PC game.

Motorcycle platforming with a combat focus

Steel Rats is built around a side-scrolling motorcycle viewed across multiple depth planes. You accelerate through Coastal City, shift between foreground and background routes, rotate the bike in mid-air, and use momentum to clear ramps, vertical surfaces, rooftops, tunnels, and environmental hazards.

This is not a conventional motorcycle racer. The core loop mixes physics-based stunt riding with precision platforming and direct combat. Levels ask you to read the terrain, choose the correct lane, activate switches, turn around when necessary, and recover from awkward landings before the next obstacle or Junkbot reaches you.

The motorcycle is also the primary weapon. Its front-mounted wheel saw can shred enemies and obstacles, while the wider arsenal includes shooting, flame-based attacks, and other character-specific tools. Wall riding, upside-down traversal, backflips, and mid-air attacks give the movement system more range than a standard Trials-style obstacle course.

Four riders, different tools

The campaign follows a biker gang defending Coastal City from an invading army of alien robots known as Junkbots. You can switch between four playable characters during the adventure, allowing the gang's distinct weapons and abilities to shape how you approach encounters.

Character switching is more than a cosmetic choice. Each rider brings a custom-built motorcycle and a unique combat option, so some situations favor close-range destruction while others reward shooting, fire attacks, or more careful positioning. The game encourages experimentation rather than locking the entire campaign to one fixed loadout.

Exploration supports the action loop. Stages contain collectibles, alternate routes, hidden areas, and objectives that reward players who look beyond the fastest path. Steam also lists leaderboards and 46 achievements, giving the campaign a score-attack and completionist layer after the basic route has been cleared.

What the PC version includes

The PC package is a paid single-player game rather than a free-to-play service. Steam lists the base game alongside two additional items: the Steel Rats original soundtrack and the free Stylish Mayhem - Skins DLC. The skins add-on is cosmetic, while the main gameplay systems, characters, stages, and combat are part of the base experience.

There is no verified season-pass structure or large expansion catalog attached to the current Steam listing. That makes Steel Rats relatively straightforward to assess: purchase the core game for its solo motorcycle combat and platforming, then treat the soundtrack and cosmetic add-on as optional extras.

Who Steel Rats suits

Steel Rats is a good fit for PC players who enjoy short, replayable action stages, unusual vehicle controls, and games that combine traversal with combat. It is especially relevant to players who like the physics foundation of motorcycle platformers but want enemies, weapons, environmental switches, and a light narrative layer added to the formula.

The game demands patience during its learning curve. Lane switching, U-turns, throttle control, bike rotation, and wheel-saw timing are handled through a control scheme that feels different from both a traditional racer and a conventional platformer. Players looking for a relaxed ride or a pure time-trial experience may find the combat and multi-plane navigation less immediately intuitive.

It is also strictly a single-player experience on Steam. There is no verified split-screen, online co-op, or competitive multiplayer mode, so the appeal comes from mastering stages, collecting secrets, improving runs, and completing the achievement set rather than racing another player directly.

PC features, controls, and localization

Steam identifies controller support for Steel Rats and lists Remote Play on TV, making the game suitable for a living-room setup as well as a conventional desktop session. The platform listing also includes Steam Cloud, Steam Trading Cards, Family Sharing, achievements, and leaderboards.

The PC version is distributed through the Steam client. No separate launcher, dedicated server tools, mod workshop, or anti-cheat system is identified on the current storefront page. That keeps the PC ecosystem focused on solo progression and Steam account features.

English provides the full audio track. Interface and subtitle support also covers French, Italian, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Romanian, Hungarian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese, with additional Portuguese variants listed by Steam. Players should therefore check the in-game language selector if they want subtitles without changing the full-audio language.

How it compares with similar PC games

Steel Rats shares its motorcycle physics heritage with physics-driven stunt racing like Trials Fusion Complete, but its priorities are different. Trials Fusion centers on obstacle-course precision, balance, and time-trial mastery, while Steel Rats adds combat, exploration, character switching, and multi-plane routes.

Players interested in Tate Multimedia's broader motorcycle design lineage can also compare it with arcade motorcycle platforming in the Urban Trial Collection. That collection is more directly focused on stunt courses and urban obstacle riding; Steel Rats uses similar motorcycle handling ideas as the base for a story-led action game against Junkbots.

The important distinction is that Steel Rats is neither a pure racing simulator nor a traditional beat 'em up. Its identity comes from combining motorbike physics, 2.5D route selection, and vehicle-based melee and ranged combat in compact solo stages.

Steel Rats FAQ

Is Steel Rats still sold under its original name on PC?

Yes. The current Steam listing is still titled Steel Rats, and no verified rebrand or replacement PC edition was found during storefront research.

Is Steel Rats multiplayer or co-op?

No. The PC listing identifies Steel Rats as a single-player game. It does not provide split-screen co-op, online multiplayer, or a versus mode.

What genre is Steel Rats?

It is a 2.5D action arcade game that combines motorcycle platforming, stunt riding, racing-style physics, exploration, and vehicular combat. It is closer to a combat-focused stunt platformer than a conventional racing game.

Can you switch characters during the game?

Yes. Steel Rats features four playable biker characters, and the Steam description states that players can switch between them. Each character has a unique ability and weapon attached to a custom motorcycle.

What is the main weapon in Steel Rats?

The motorcycle itself is the main weapon. Its front wheel carries a saw blade, and the riders also use shooting, flame attacks, and other character-specific abilities to destroy Junkbots and clear obstacles.

Does the PC version support controllers?

Steam includes controller support among the game's platform tags and lists Remote Play on TV. The storefront does not present Steel Rats as a mouse-and-keyboard-only game.